National Lottery Shuts Down for 36 Hours This Weekend for Massive Tech Overhaul
Biggest Upgrade in 31 Years
The National Lottery is going dark for 36 hours this weekend for what operator Allwyn calls the biggest technology upgrade in its 31-year history. Starting at 11pm on Saturday, 2 August, right after the Lotto and Thunderball draws, all draw-based game sales and prize claims will be paused across UK shops until late Monday morning, 4 August.
What You Need to Know
- Shop terminals may face delays returning online if the upgrade hits any snags.
- Prize claims must be made before 11pm Saturday—there will be no access during the shutdown.
- Scratchcards and Instant Win games won’t be affected and will continue as usual.
This Weekend’s Draw Schedule
- Set For Life – Thursday, 31 July
- EuroMillions & EuroMillions Hotpicks – Friday, 1 August
- Thunderball – Friday, 1 August
- Lotto & Lotto Hotpicks – Saturday, 2 August
Final Chance to Check Results
Players can check draw results as usual until systems go offline late Saturday night. After that, it’s a no-go until the upgrade wraps up on Monday morning.
CEO Andria Vidler said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to upgrade our systems and improve your lottery experience.”
